GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Guthrie Cortland Medical Center has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #43 out of 594 facilities in New York, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the three nursing homes in Cortland County. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with issues increasing from 1 in 2021 to 5 in 2024. While staffing is a strength with a 5/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 31%, below the state average, the facility's fines of $70,434 are concerning, being higher than 95% of New York facilities. Specific incidents include improper food storage practices that risk contamination and lack of proper staff training for managing medical devices, highlighting the need for improvement despite strong staffing and care ratings.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In New York
- #43/594
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 31% turnover. Near New York's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ⚠ Watch
- $70,434 in fines. Higher than 86% of New York facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 57 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for New York. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (31%)
17 points below New York average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
15pts below New York avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Well above median ($33,413)
Moderate penalties - review what triggered them
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Mar 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0726
(Tag F0726)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview during the recertification survey conducted 3/11/2024-3/15/2024, the facility...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0760
(Tag F0760)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview during the recertification and abbreviated (NY00294915) surveys conducted 3/1...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review during the recertification survey conducted 3/11/2024-3/15/2024, the facility did not ensure drugs and biologicals were labelled and stored in accord...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview during the recertification survey conducted 3/11/2024 - 3/15/2024, the facili...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0577
(Tag F0577)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and interview during the recertification survey conducted 3/11/2024-3/15/2024, the facility did not ensure the results of the most recent survey of the facility conducted by Feder...
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Dec 2021
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Grievances
(Tag F0585)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, record review and interview during the recertification and abbreviated surveys (NY00267452) conducted from 12/15/21-12/17/21 the facility failed to make prompt efforts to resolv...
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Aug 2019
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility did not ensure the participation of the resident and the resident's represent...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and interview during the recertification survey the facility did not ensure each resident re...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and interview during the recertification survey, the facility did not ensure respiratory car...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, record review and interviews during the recertification survey, the facility did not store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interviews during the recertification survey, the facility did not establish and mainta...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview conducted during the recertification survey, the facility did not ensure 3 of 3 residents (...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in New York.
- • 31% turnover. Below New York's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • $70,434 in fines. Extremely high, among the most fined facilities in New York. Major compliance failures.
About This Facility
What is Guthrie Cortland Medical Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within New York, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Guthrie Cortland Medical Center Staffed?
CMS rates GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 31%, compared to the New York average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER during 2019 to 2024. These included: 11 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Guthrie Cortland Medical Center?
GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 80 certified beds and approximately 72 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in CORTLAND, New York.
How Does Guthrie Cortland Medical Center Compare to Other New York Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in New York, GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (31%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Guthrie Cortland Medical Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Guthrie Cortland Medical Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in New York. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center Stick Around?
GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER has a staff turnover rate of 31%, which is about average for New York nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Guthrie Cortland Medical Center Ever Fined?
GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER has been fined $70,434 across 1 penalty action. This is above the New York average of $33,783. Fines in this range indicate compliance issues significant enough for CMS to impose meaningful financial consequences. Common causes include delayed correction of deficiencies, repeat violations, or care failures affecting resident safety. Families should ask facility leadership what changes have been made since these penalties.
Is Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on Any Federal Watch List?
GUTHRIE CORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.